GINGER CHICKEN - without frying

This is my mother's recipe . It was one of her most  frequently made Chinese dish. She fries the chicken . This is my lazy version , without frying.
RECIPE

1. 350 gms. boneless chicken
2. 1 medium sized onion
3. 1/4 cup chopped ginger 
4. 2 tsp soya sauce
5. 1/2 tsp coarsely ground pepper(optional)
6. 1 Tbsp sugar
7. salt to taste
8. 2 Tbsp oil
9. 1 Tbsp. corn flour
10. 1/4 cup water

Method

• Wash , cut and drain the chicken . Keep aside.
• Mix 1 Tbsp. corn flour with 1/4 cup water.
  
  
  
  

• Mince the onion and ginger . I use my food processor to do that. First pulse the ginger before putting in the onions.
  
  
  
  
  

• Heat a wok(cheena chatti) on high flame. When warm pour 2 Tbsp oil.
  

• When the oil is hot , put in the minced onion and ginger . sauté for a minute , till the raw smell goes.
  
  
  
  

• Now add the chicken . Mix it with the minced onion and ginger and then put the mixture along the sides of the wok and let it sear for 2 minutes. Do not stir now.
  
  
  
  

• Now stir the chicken . Again move it to the sides and sear for 2 minutes. Continue doing this for 2 minute pulses. Do not cover and cook.  Do not reduce the heat.
  

• When the chicken is  cooked and no longer pink , add 1 Tbsp sugar. Sauté(allow it to caramelize a little bit) , add 2 tsp soy sauce ,1/2 tsp peper. Stir well. Now add salt. Keep in mind that you have added soy sauce which already contains salt.
  

• Now move the chicken towards the side of the wok. 
  
  
  

• Pour the corn flour mixture in the center and turn off the stove. Lot of flavors are stuck at the bottom of the wok , which will loosen with the addition of the corn flour mixture.
  
  
  

• After 10 minutes , stir well.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Good with fried rice or peas pulav.

NOTES

• The above dish doesn't have a gravy. If a gravy dish is required , mix the 1 Tbsp corn flour in 1 cup of water (instead of 1/4 cup). Let the mixture boil slightly.
  
  
  
• 1 tsp chili flakes can be used instead of 1/2 tsp pepper powder.
• Can add tamarind pulp for sourness, will give dark color to the dish too.
• Why not make a sauce with minced onion, ginger, chili, and cook it like inji pulli and then saute the chicken in the oil and add the inji pulli and then the sauce and then season to taste.